Cleaning Blade Surface Treatment for Chipping Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cleaning blades used in electrophotographic processes face issues with chipping, filming, and inadequate cleaning performance due to high friction coefficients and limited dynamic hardness, leading to increased torque and toner adhesion.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning blade with a rubber base material and a surface treatment layer formed by impregnating a surface treatment liquid containing an isocyanate compound and organic solvent, with an indentation elastic modulus of 40 MPa or lower and a thickness of 10 μm to 50 μm, providing a significant difference in elastic modulus between the surface treatment layer and the elastic body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the surface of the polyurethane blade is enhanced by impregnating with isocyanate compound, then the hardness and friction resistance are improved, but chipping occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a surface treatment layer with different properties than the bulk material. The surface layer has higher hardness and lower friction coefficient through isocyanate compound impregnation, while the interior maintains original elasticity. This gradient structure prevents chipping by maintaining a transition zone between soft interior and hardened surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters by controlling the indentation elastic modulus of the surface treatment layer to be 0.03 to 0.3 times that of the interior, and adjusting friction coefficient to 0.05 or lower. These parameter optimizations resolve the contradiction between surface hardness and chipping resistance.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the friction of the blade surface is reduced, then filming is prevented, but undesired release of toner occurs resulting in cleaning failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the friction coefficient parameter to be 0.05 or lower through surface treatment, which prevents filming while maintaining adequate toner release. This precise parameter control resolves the contradiction between preventing filming and ensuring cleaning performance.
3Strength
If the hardness of the polyurethane blade is increased, then wear resistance is improved, but the friction coefficient increases causing defoliation and anomalous sounds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates local quality differentiation where only the surface layer (5-50 μm thick) has enhanced hardness and reduced friction, while the interior remains soft and elastic. This resolves the contradiction by localizing hardness enhancement to where it is needed for wear resistance, while the bulk material maintains low friction characteristics.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances chipping resistance, suppresses filming, and improves cleaning performance by controlling the elastic modulus and friction coefficient within specific ranges, ensuring effective contact with photoreceptor drums without excessive torque or toner adhesion.
Implementation Method 1
a surface treatment layer formed by impregnating a surface portion of the elastic body with a surface treatment liquid containing an isocyanate compound and an organic solvent
Implementation Method 2
cause reaction between the polyurethane resin and the isocyanate compound, whereby the hardness of the surface the polyurethane resin blade and a portion in the vicinity the surface of the blade are selectively increased
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning blade (1) having an elastic body (11) molded from a rubber base material, and having at least a surface treatment layer (12) on the area of the elastic body (11) that is brought into contact with a body to be contacted, wherein the surface treatment layer (12) is formed by impregnating the surface layer portion of the elastic body (11) with a surface treatment liquid containing an isocyanate compound and an organic solvent and hardening the liquid. The elasticity modulus of the surface treatment layer (12) is 40 MPa or less, the elasticity modulus of the elastic body (11) is 3-20 MPa, and the difference between the elasticity modulus of the surface treatment layer (12) and the elasticity modulus of the elastic body (11) is 1 MPa or more.